The way to Calvary

 

As we wait for the celebration of Resurrection Sunday we must take time to see the pain that Jesus endured  to lead us there.  We call this time of the year "Lent." It's the season that helps us to focus on the reason we need a savior, and to take time to know Jesus, the Savior that we need.  He might have said the following words.

The night that Satan thought he had me,

the night he planned his victory, 

that night his servant Judas kissed me, began my walk to Calvary. 

The rough arms came, reached out, and seized me.

My dear friend drew his sword to fight.

Put back your sword, I said to Peter, it has to be this way tonight.

 

Oh don't you think I could withstand them without your help if I should try.

Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with just a cry.

 

And then I asked of those who seized me,

why did you come with clubs and swords

while every day I sat among you

teaching in the temple courts?

 

On those days did you arrest me? 

No, now you come in evening’s hour. 

For Satan's way is always darkness

and you -  by hating, give him power.

 

Oh don't you think I could withstand you at any time if I should try.

Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with just a cry.

 

But lead me on the way to Calvary.

We'll take the road together now.

I'll walk along - no need to drag me

for I won't use my heavenly power.

 

Oh I could call ten thousand angels if I wanted to be free.

But my love will keep me silent, until I die upon that tree.

 

My love for you is what will hold me on the cross to set you free.

The Holy God has reached down to His sin-laden creation and paid the necessary price for each and every sin, in each and every age.  This price was due because mankind left the way of perfection that God set in our world at the beginning, and Jesus paid that price.

Thank you Father, Thank you Jesus.
 
 

Change, Struggle or Loss

How do we handle change, struggle or loss?  I don't believe we can do it well - on our own. 

Right now, I'm struggling a bit with change. it’s difficult to let go of the past comfort of feeling at home and valued in my own little everyday world.

 
In Beth Moore’s Bible study, “Chasing Vines.”  She mentions the phrase “Make it matter.”

So, I ask God, who should it matter to?

To Him - Are my struggles helping me to see you, God?  Am I glorifying you in the way I handle them?  Am I drawing closer to you or further away as I squirm in my struggles?  Am I depending on you as you say I should?  I believe these things really do matter to you, my Father. Please Help me see them in my every days.

To other people - Are other people hurt by my struggles?  Am I encouraging them or bringing them down?  Am I reaching out to help or only to be helped?  It’s so hard to see this in myself, but Father, you see it in me.  Help me to follow your lead.
 
Another thing that I noticed in the study is that I must grow from change!  If I’m to please you, my Father I must use this time to grow muscles - spiritual muscles.  I need them in order be patient and to persevere.  I’ll need those muscles also to grow in knowledge.  Just living through change can help me see your  hand in my life, but I know I must search your word to find strength to do that growing.  Father, please open my eyes.

Friends, years ago, I wrote this little poem for my daughter, but I find I need it sometimes myself.  Maybe you do too.

I'm in this place.  My God has put me here.

I'm in His grace, no matter when or where.

He'll walk with me through sorrow and through care.

 

I'm in this place.

I'm in this time.

I'm not alone.

 

I'll be content.  I'll meet each day with song.

He's always there to wipe a tear or right a wrong.

And when I'm weak, he's by my side to make me strong.

 

I'm in this place.

I'm in this time.

I'm not alone.

 

God's in this home. His arms around me here.

God's in this night.  He makes the dawn appear.

God's in my life, in all that I hold dear.

 

He's in your place.

He's in your time.

You’re not alone.

He's more than Power and Might

Through the tears of despair, 

and of sorrow and care 

that were clouding my eyes and my heart,

through the haze of my pain, or when worry would reign,

a glimmer of hope seemed to start.

As I look around I see 

a towering mountain’s majesty, 

completely overwhelming me. 

               Until                        

  

 Tumbling clouds and breezes rise

to wipe my sad and tortured eyes.

And I listen. 

Then I hear

God’s thunder. 

the music is like clapping hands,

drumbeats at my Lord's command. 

Amidst the din 

a flash of fire,

a white-hot spear hurled from on high. 

Assurance that our master’s hand   

holds strength and power at His command.

God’s might and majesty I see,

they could undo or frighten me. 

But He had more to show this child, 

His tender care, love undefiled.

Upon a tree, amidst the storm I see in God’s design

a mother’s wings surround her chick. 

Protection – 

wall of downy love,

a picture of our God above.

And in this place of wind and rain

protection lives within the pain.

Protecting care for little things 

is what our God has planned.

For God is more than storms and power.

He’s “love” with outstretched hand.

Seeing now the world He formed 

with love and care, 

and strength and might, 

with beauty, and with awesome light,

there’s healing in my broken soul.

Creator’s voice has made it whole. 

Because these awesome pictures show 

what my heart should always know.

My God is in control!

Valentines Day

Cards, hearts, flowers, candy, and martyrdom.

I thought I'd write a lighthearted post on Valentine's day.  But when I started looking into the history of it, I found, not a beautiful, pleasant picture, but confused stories giving several accounts of a saint named Valentine.  

Some accounts tell us that St. Valentine was a Roman priest and a physician.  He is supposed to have been killed during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II in about the year 270.  There are other "Valentines" that people have named as the person to whom February 14 is connected.  At least one of those men was supposed to have been martyred as well.

For myself, I prefer not to dwell on the martyrdom, or to think of the "cards, hearts, flowers, and candy."  I prefer to dwell on the fact of love - not just romantic love as the holiday has evolved into, but the love of our God.  

The only reason there is real love in this world is that God himself IS love.  It is so cool that the creator of this world IS what His creation needs.  

God showed His love to me today

in fluffy clouds and new mown hay,

in mountain's towering peaks that rise

from gentle plains, to ice blue skies.

Flowers shouting loud and clear - 

their colors bright with dew drop's tear,

and tall green trees that wave, and sway

in summer breeze - they boldly say,

"God's showing love to you today."

Cold clear streams that leap and roar 

and soothe a throat that's dry and sore --

in all these things my heart can say

"God's showing love to me today."

In gentle hands that help and bear

and tears that come from hearts that care,

in family's love and loyalty

God shows his mighty Love to me.

In words that come from deep within

the loving heart of a dear friend,

a pat, a hug, a tender touch

that says, "I love you, oh so much."

We see in each amazing way 

God show HIS awesome love each day

"This is love: not that we loved God, 

but that he loved us 

and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

1 John 4:10 (NIV)

Mature?

In the garden God created a man and a woman.

In the garden He made them 

man and woman,

not boy and girl.

No baby steps here - fully grown - fully made - Yes!

Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good."

It was very good indeed.

And yet, the woman and man fell for the lies of the devil.  They fell for the twisted words, the enticing fruit, they fell for the dream of being like God - knowing everything.   

They were grown, but being grown does not always equate to being wise, or mature.

In the Bible, 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul is writing to a young leader.  He uses the words, "Don't let anyone despise your youth..."  We can make much of this, saying that age has nothing to do with a person's ability to understand and teach the Word of God.

I agree.  Age does not, but for the most part, maturity does.  And as Paul continues the sentance, he says "set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love and in purity."  Those actions are cultivated over the years of one's life - hopefully.  

There is always a "but," because we also learn from those we want to learn from - children as well. 

Jesus specifically brought children to Himself.  He said that the Kingdom of God is like them - like those innocent and trusting children.

A flower begins as a seed, and then a bud, it becomes more and more beautiful as it ages, so a follower of Christ can become.  As a Christ Follower is warmed by the Son of God, fed by the Holy Spirit and watered by the Word, she will become beautiful and healthy.  That person will be a blessing to others.  She will give healthy food and a beautiful aroma to those she touches.

My prayer as I age is that I will "smell good" to those around me.

Love Diane

Mercy Is!

 Micah 6:6-8 (NLT)

What can we bring to the Lord?

    Should we bring him burnt offerings?

Should we bow before God Most High

    with offerings of yearling calves?

Should we offer him thousands of rams

    and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Should we sacrifice our firstborn children

    to pay for our sins?

No, O people, 

the Lord has told you what is good,

    and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

    and to walk humbly with your God.

I recently spent some time wondering just how those scripture verses in Micah applied to Christ followers in our world.  
It seems that the word "Mercy" is used in different ways in the Scriptures, but one of the most moving to me is that "Mercy" seems to be connected with "God NOT doing something." 

The mercy of God is ultimately shown in His forgiveness - in God NOT punishing us for our sins, for the way we let him down, and the way we lack true obedience.  God doesn't punish his followers, his children, as they deserve - He forgives.  

God paid the price for our failures.  

The Latin word merced or merces - translated as Mercy, means "price paid." It has the connotation of forgiveness, benevolence and kindness. 

Mercy from God says that He acts gently and kindly towards his children.

So if we look at it that way, we see what this Mercy is.

It is God not giving us what we deserve. 

And that's a very humbling thought.  

In Micah 6, the people are being told that loving mercy is truly understanding our own sinfulness.  He says, "the Lord has told you what is good," stressing our dependence and station as created children of the God of the universe.  

The God of the Universe!  This is the one and only God who has so graciously forgiven, loved, and gifted us with his help and compassion.

How can we do anything other than walk humbly before Him?

We lay our sin-filled lives before you

with eyes downcast, almost afraid. 

We seek You Father, King, Creator,

dejected, daunted and dismayed.

We know you've promised not to leave us

even when from your path we've strayed.

So

We ask for Grace and Mercy from you,

And with a gentle touch you tell us 

My Child, my love, your debt is paid.

“How Deep The Father's Love For Us” is a timeless hymn from British songwriter and Christian worship leader, Stuart Townend.

This song seems like it must have been with us forever, but it was just  written in 1995.  Mr. Townend has written many songs used in Christian worship.  This one, however, stands out to me as more than a normal hymn: it's a sermon.  This song/sermon  tells us the real truth about God and His love, and it speaks of the price that He paid for our sins.  The words denote true worship, focusing on Him primarily, and focusing on us as recipients of God's love, His sacrifice, and His grace. You'll want to click on the link below to hear the words.

How deep the Father's love for us

The song tells of the sacrifice of God's only Son as proof of His great love for mankind.

I can't quote the entire song here, but the words create in me deep feelings of regret and sadness for the pain my sin has to have caused our Father, but they also inspire feelings of tremendous gratitude for this sacrifice.  

The lyrics end with that sacrifice.

"His wounds have paid my ransom."

We can continue to thank God for the ministry of this writer and pray that God will continue blessing us with the thoughts and music that come from Mr. Townend's heart.

Next week I'll be talking about sacrifice - I wonder what thoughts will show up in my scripture reading time.  God has so much to tell us.